Verb conjugation

acquérir

to acquire, to obtain; to purchase

Usage

Acquérir means to acquire — a skill, a property, a reputation — and is more formal than the everyday obtenir or acheter. It's an irregular verb conjugated like conquérir (j'acquiers, nous acquérons, il acquit in the passé simple).

Examples

Elle a acquis une solide expérience en gestion de projet. — She has acquired solid experience in project management.
L'entreprise a acquis un nouveau concurrent l'année dernière. — The company acquired a new competitor last year.
Ce savoir-faire s'acquiert avec la pratique. — This know-how is acquired through practice.

Common mistake

Learners conjugate acquérir like a regular -er verb (*j'acquière) instead of following the irregular pattern shared with conquérir — the correct present tense is j'acquiers, tu acquiers, il acquiert, nous acquérons.

Often confused with obtenir.

Simple tenses

Present

je	acquiers
tu	acquiers
il/elle	acquiert
nous	acquérons
vous	acquérez
ils/elles	acquièrent

Imperfect

je	acquérais
tu	acquérais
il/elle	acquérait
nous	acquérions
vous	acquériez
ils/elles	acquéraient

Past historic (passé simple)

je	acquis
tu	acquis
il/elle	acquit
nous	acquîmes
vous	acquîtes
ils/elles	acquirent

Future

je	acquerrai
tu	acquerras
il/elle	acquerra
nous	acquerrons
vous	acquerrez
ils/elles	acquerront

Conditional

je	acquerrais
tu	acquerrais
il/elle	acquerrait
nous	acquerrions
vous	acquerriez
ils/elles	acquerraient

Subjunctive

je	acquière
tu	acquières
il/elle	acquière
nous	acquérions
vous	acquériez
ils/elles	acquièrent

Subjunctive (imperfect)

je	acquisse
tu	acquisses
il/elle	acquît
nous	acquissions
vous	acquissiez
ils/elles	acquissent

Imperative

tu	acquiers
nous	acquérons
vous	acquérez

Compound tenses

Passé composé

je	ai acquis
tu	as acquis
il/elle	a acquis
nous	avons acquis
vous	avez acquis
ils/elles	ont acquis

Plus-que-parfait

je	avais acquis
tu	avais acquis
il/elle	avait acquis
nous	avions acquis
vous	aviez acquis
ils/elles	avaient acquis

Passé antérieur

je	eus acquis
tu	eus acquis
il/elle	eut acquis
nous	eûmes acquis
vous	eûtes acquis
ils/elles	eurent acquis

Futur antérieur

je	aurai acquis
tu	auras acquis
il/elle	aura acquis
nous	aurons acquis
vous	aurez acquis
ils/elles	auront acquis

Conditionnel passé

je	aurais acquis
tu	aurais acquis
il/elle	aurait acquis
nous	aurions acquis
vous	auriez acquis
ils/elles	auraient acquis

Subjonctif passé

je	aie acquis
tu	aies acquis
il/elle	ait acquis
nous	ayons acquis
vous	ayez acquis
ils/elles	aient acquis

Subjonctif plus-que-parfait

je	eusse acquis
tu	eusses acquis
il/elle	eût acquis
nous	eussions acquis
vous	eussiez acquis
ils/elles	eussent acquis

Impératif passé

tu	aie acquis
nous	ayons acquis
vous	ayez acquis

Other

Present participle

acquérant

Past participle

acquis

Infinitive

acquérir

Want to practice? Try a conjugation exercise.

Frequently asked questions

What does "acquérir" mean?

"acquérir" means "to acquire, to obtain; to purchase".

How do you conjugate "acquérir" in the present tense?

The present of "acquérir" is: je acquiers, tu acquiers, il/elle acquiert, nous acquérons, vous acquérez, ils/elles acquièrent.

What is the Passé composé of "acquérir"?

The passé composé of "acquérir" is: je ai acquis, tu as acquis, il/elle a acquis, nous avons acquis, vous avez acquis, ils/elles ont acquis.

What is the Imperative of "acquérir"?

The imperative of "acquérir" is: tu acquiers, nous acquérons, vous acquérez.

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